Tips for Keeping Your Devices Secure

We all live in a connected world where the smartphone in our pocket or the laptop in our bag often contain all the information required to steal an identity, utilize financial resources, and infiltrate secure spaces. The prevalence of cybercrime and the tenacity of cybercriminals means it is more important than ever to take steps to secure all the devices you use to connect.

ISS recommends taking the following security precautions in order to create a layered defense against the most common threats against your devices and the information they contain.

Don’t Use Public Wi-Fi

Ever. Really. Unless, of course, you are also using a personal VPN (or the UNH VPN when appropriate).

Use A VPN

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, provides as a secure, encrypted connection from a computing device to the internet. Using a VPN protects you by hiding your device’s IP address and physical location and encrypting your data.

Having the latest version of all the software and applications you use is the best defense against viruses, malware, and other online threats. This includes your web browser, operating system, mobile device operating system, and anti-malware/anti-virus/security software. Make sure your devices automatically accept and install operating system updates. Also, ensure you are accepting updates from third-party applications like Adobe Acrobat Reader, Adobe Flash Player, Java, and Microsoft Office applications as outdated versions contain vulnerabilities that are frequently exploited by cybercriminals.

Back-up Your Device or Rely on Cloud Storage

Regular back-ups of the data stored on your devices to an external storage location like an external hard drive or a cloud service is one of your best protections against ransomware, theft, and other causes of data loss. Alternatively, you can choose not to store any data on your device and rely solely on cloud services, like Box at UNH, for storage. Both approaches help protect against device-specific data loss.

Encrypt Your Devices

Encryption protects the information on your device in the event the device is lost or stolen.

You can help protect your device from malware infection by steering clear of the types of websites and programs commonly used for malware delivery. For more information on the types of websites and programs to avoid, read Tips to Avoid Malware.

Never Leave Devices Unattended

Do not leave portable devices unattended in public spaces. This reduces the risk of theft, which can result in ramifications well beyond the cost of replacing the device. It also ensures no one is able to access your device (and the data it contains) without your knowledge or permission.

Enable Remote Wipe on Mobile Devices

Enabling the remote wipe feature on your mobile phone or tablet ensure you have the ability to protect the data on that device if it is lost or stolen.

Disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth When Not in Use

Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when you are not using them to present unauthorized wireless access to the device.